Thailand

Thailand's aquaculture industry is one of the country's great success stories, but climate pressure, disease risk, tougher export markets, and cheaper competitors are spurring the sector to innovate and adapt. On 13 July 2026, stakeholders from government, research, industry, and the export and standards communities gathered at the Department of Fisheries in Bangkok to review and validate a draft National Innovation and Investment Plan for aquaculture, developed under a regional FAO Technical Cooperation Programme implemented by NACA that is also assisting India and the Philippines.

At its heart is a bold vision: for Thailand to become a global leader in innovative aquaculture by 2030, competing on quality, innovation, and value rather than volume, anchored by three connected ideas spanning innovation, premium branding, and the next generation of aquaculture talent.

In this issue:

• AquaInnovate 2: Scaling nature-based solutions and regional synergy in Bangkok.
• Translucent post-larvae disease (TPD): Disease card.
• Strengthening the partnership: NACA welcomes new Director General of Thai DOF.
• Insights from the FAO Expert Workshop on Sustainable Aquaculture.
• Advancing global collaboration for sustainable aquaculture in Fuzhou, China.
• Reported Aquatic Animal Diseases in during the Third and Fourth Quarters of 2025.
• Scholarships for Master’s Degree in Aquaculture and Fisheries, China 2026.
• Report of the 24th Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health.

AquaInnovate 2 brought together 12 startups, scientists, and industry leaders in Bangkok from 23-27 March 2026, continuing the momentum to accelerate nature-based solutions and climate innovation across the Asia-Pacific, with financial from Canada's International Development Research Centre.

The week blended intensive learning with practical experience. Entrepreneurs pitched breakthrough ideas in biotechnology, community enterprise, and regional scaling, then refined their business models through expert coaching circles. Field visits to innovative Thai aquaculture sites connected theory with real-world practice, while a high-stakes "Shark Tank" session challenged innovators to defend their ideas before experienced investors and business leaders. A culinary showcase highlighted the importance of engaging buyers and chefs as essential partners in market success - not just scientists and farmers.

The week concluded with the unveiling of the AquaHub Vision, a roadmap for a permanent digital platform to sustain and grow the pan-regional network of aquaculture innovators into 2026 and beyond.

Videos of workshop presentations will be available on this page and NACA's YouTube channel shortly.

NACA's Director General, Dr. Eduardo Leano, recently met with Dr. Thitiporn Laoprasert, the newly appointed Director General of Thailand's Department of Fisheries (DOF), to discuss opportunities for closer regional cooperation. Dr. Laoprasert, a familiar face in NACA activities, takes the helm of an agency that has hosted the NACA Secretariat for over 35 years, a partnership that has made Thailand central to aquaculture development across the Asia-Pacific.

The meeting identified four priority areas for collaboration: building climate resilience, promoting gender equity, advancing nature-based solutions, and expanding the Aquaculture Innovation and Investment Hub to connect new technologies with local farmers. Dr. Laoprasert also emphasised the need for joint research and development to reduce production costs and strengthen regional food security. Thailand's DOF is already contributing by documenting local innovations for the AquaHub, a new regional innovation and investment platform.

In this issue:

• Thailand charts aquaculture transformation plan at Bangkok workshop.
• Report of the 3rd High-Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation in Asia and the Pacific Region.
• AquaHub Vision Workshop: Setting a direction.
• AquaHub private-sector engagement discussion at Third AQUADAPT Peer Learning Event.
• Veterinary training programme: Fundamentals of farm health management in aquaculture.
• Reported aquatic animal diseases in the Asia-Pacific region during the first and second quarters of 2025.
• PhD scholarships in marine sciences: Shanghai Ocean University PhD Programme 2026.

A free webinar "Farming resilience: Unlocking the Artemia opportunity" will be held on 30 October from 8:00-11:00 EST (13:00-16:00 UTC). This webinar will present the results of an in-depth analysis of Artemia production, conservation and investment opportunities by the World Bank Group, with expert input from members of the International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium.

Artemia (brine shrimp) is a critical live feed in aquaculture, particularly in hatcheries for shrimp, fish, and ornamental species. Its production and sustainable management are increasingly important as aquaculture expands globally. Global Artemia markets face increasing demand, while new innovations in farming, processing, and conservation offer opportunities for inclusive investment, resilience, and biodiversity protection.

This event will bring together global experts, policymakers, private sector representatives, and development partners to discuss the state of Artemia production and conservation, market opportunities, regulatory frameworks, and pathways for sustainable and viable investment.

Bangkok, 21-22 October 2025 - Thailand convened a two-day workshop at the Department of Fisheries to shape a National Innovation and Investment Plan (NIIP) for aquaculture. The meeting formed part of FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme project TCP/RAS/4004, implemented with NACA, which is supporting India, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam to prepare NIIPs and link them into a shared Aquaculture Transformation Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning System (ATMS) for Asia and the Pacific.

Pathum Thani, 5-6 October - NACA participated in the 3rd AQUADAPT Peer-Learning Event at the Asian Institute of Technology Conference Center. Partners reviewed progress on nature-based solutions (NbS) in aquaculture, shared experience and set priorities for the year ahead. The two-day programme combined project presentations, a world-café on climate resilience, and working sessions designed to turn research insights into practice.

The AquaHub project of NACA and FutureFish led a working session on “Knowledge brokering: Private sector engagement and nature-based and inclusive business models,” convening researchers and practitioners to sharpen strategies for scaling NbS through market actors across the value chain, from small-scale farmers and associations to SMEs and larger enterprises. Discussion centred on pragmatic engagement models that can connect research outcomes to investable, inclusive business opportunities.

Bangkok, 7 October - NACA convened a one-day, in-person working group to shape the vision, mission and strategy for the AquaHub, a startup incubator and support network for innovators in the aquaculture space. The workshop focused on establishing the AquaHub’s vision, mission, values and partnership principles to define how it will operate, and the immediate steps required to mobilise partners and resources across the Asia–Pacific.

Participants began by clarifying the problems AquaHub should address and why a dedicated hub is the right vehicle. Small group exercises produced draft vision and mission statements looking to 2035, which were then refined through rapid peer feedback. This work was grounded in a brief review of AquaHub’s current status and the wider innovation landscape to ensure complementarity with existing efforts.

In this issue:

• Transforming Aquaculture in Asia and the Pacific: 3rd High-Level Meeting in Shanghai.
• Watch the HLM-3 presentations on YouTube!
• Thailand to chart aquaculture transformation plan at Bangkok workshop.
• Third Asia-Pacific Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program for Aquatic Animal Diseases launched.

The third Asia-Pacific Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program for Aquatic Animal Diseases has been launched, with a regional workshop in Bangkok bringing together 50 people from 13 countries and territories across the region. The program, supported by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, builds on more than a decade of collaboration to strengthen diagnostic capacity, safeguard aquaculture livelihoods, and support safe trade and food security.

A networking and coaching event for aquaculture entrepreneurs and startups was held in Bangkok from 12-19 May. AQUAINNOVATE brought together promising startups to pitch their ideas, network, and participate in expert coaching circles.

Convened by NACA and FutureFish with funding support from Canada's International Development Research Centre, the programme included sessions on business fundamentals, investing for impact, nature and community based business innovations, and interactions with experts from the the National Innovation Agency, Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, and Mahidol University.

Watch the entrepreneur pitch presentations now!

Green Controller by ICM Electronics is a smart water quality monitoring system for aquaculture, powered by high-precision titanium sensors. It tracks dissolved oxygen, salinity, and pH in real time, with full control through a mobile app and instant anomaly alerts. The system enables automated aeration based on live data, reducing energy use, lowering aerator run time, and improving feed conversion efficiency for more sustainable aquaculture operations. This pitch was presented Sukmit Teekhasenee of ICM Electronics.

ShrimpGuard, developed by BIOTEC, NSTDA, and Kasetsart University in Thailand, is a phage-based innovation for managing shrimp health. It targets Vibrio infections using bacteriophages combined with immune-boosting agents, reducing antimicrobial use while improving farm productivity and sustainability across ASEAN. The project also engages farmers directly through training, outreach, and field trials to ensure practical application and lasting benefits for coastal communities and the wider aquaculture sector. This pitch was presented by Wanilada Rungrassamee of BIOTEC.

PowBio is a microbial inoculant developed by NileBioFish (NINEBIO GROUP Co., Ltd.) in Thailand to support sustainable biofloc aquaculture systems. Co-developed with Maejo University’s Faculty of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and supported by the Thailand National Innovation Agency, PowBio uses high-efficiency microorganisms to turn fish pond waste into natural protein. By reducing ammonia and nitrite levels, improving water quality, and recycling nutrients within ponds, PowBio helps farmers cut feed costs, lower water exchange needs, and reduce chemical inputs. The result is healthier harvests without muddy off-flavors—delivered through a practical, low-cost, and easy-to-use solution for more productive and resilient aquaculture. This pitch was presented by Nissara Kitcharoen of NileBiofish.

This presentation introduces a life cycle assessment tool designed to evaluate the sustainability of nature-based aquaculture practices. The tool measures environmental impacts such as carbon footprint and supports farmers, researchers, and policymakers in identifying mitigation strategies for more eco-friendly production systems. This pitch was presented by Kobboon Kaewpila of the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment Laboratory, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi.

Kitiya Vongkamjan, co-founder of UniFAHS, shares the journey of building a pioneering phage biotechnology company in Thailand. UniFAHS develops bacteriophage-based solutions to tackle antimicrobial resistance and improve food safety in agriculture, aquaculture, livestock, and food processing. UniFAHS was recognised as a Global Finalist in the Extreme Tech Challenge 2022 and has grown into a venture-backed startup, raising USD 1.4 million in seed funding from A2D Ventures, ADB Ventures, and InnoSpace (Thailand). The story highlights how cutting-edge science can be transformed into scalable commercial solutions with real-world impact.

In this presentation, Fabian Reusch, founder of HydroNeo, shares the story of how HydroNeo began and the lessons learned along the way of building a tech startup in Thailand. Aimed at fellow aquaculture entrepreneurs and startup founders, his talk is an open and honest reflection on the realities of the journey — not a polished, glamorous pitch that only highlights the wins, but a candid look at both successes and setbacks, the difficult decisions, and the ongoing challenges that shape the real path of building a company.

This video by Montakan Tamtin, Department of Fisheries, features two presentations from Thailand’s delegation to the 3rd High-Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation in Asia and the Pacific Region. The first showcases innovation and nature-based solutions in aquaculture via the IDRC-funded AQUADAPT Project; the second presents Thailand’s pilot initiative for low-carbon shrimp farming under an FAO Technical Cooperation Programme.

This video by Chokanan Prompichai, NACA, presents two promising innovations aimed at reducing antimicrobial use (AMU) in aquaculture, showcased as part of Thailand’s National Innovation and Investment Plan (NIIP) and via the IDRC-funded InnoVet-AMR 2.0 Project. NanoVac, developed by AIT, uses nanobubbles to deliver vaccines to tilapia, while ShrimpGuard, developed by BIOTEC and KU, is a bacteriophage-based solution for managing shrimp diseases. Both technologies offer potential to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) without leaving chemical residues. The presentation compares their readiness, challenges, and adoption, incorporating feedback from shrimp farmers across Thailand. It highlights the need for cost-effective, easy-to-use solutions that align with farmers' real-world needs and regulatory frameworks.